Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-05-20
ADOLPH STEINER.

AD0LPH STEINER.
In the pictures afforded us by the history
of war we catch distinct glimpses of per-
sonalty as relate to commanding officers;
but vast armies are moved before the mind
in aggregated masses, from which we do
not separate or distinguish the distinct
personally of any common soldier. The
images presented in the account of great
battle place in conspicuous foreground the
commanding General, the commanders of
corps, sometimes extending to command
ers Of divisions, rarely including those
who command brigades or regiments.
Behind these prominent figures armies are
marshaled in masses Of impersonal soldiery.
When casualties are to be reported, the
fall of General is mentioned as the dis
tinguishing feature of an engagement, but
the men who fall in the ranks are grouped
in sheaves, and but little more attention is
paid TO the individuality of the fallen
brave than to the individual straws in
harvested gram.
Once only in history has the attempt
been made to preserve the individual he
roism Of private soldiery. Kinglake was
the historian who essayed this task, and
the Crimean war was the theater of his
generous undertaking. There are great
industrial armies in these modern times,
organized under single head, and the
largest aggregation of this brave and patri-
otic soldiery is organized into the service
of modern methods of transportation. A
veteran III one of these armies has fallen,
and il Is to rescue his name and his fame
from that oblivion which is the fate at
tending the memory of those who fall in
article is written. 1t may fail of its pur-
pose, but it shall not fail in generosity,
nor in the Justice of its Characterization.
Adolph Steiner was born in Innspruck,
Austrian Tyrol, on June %, 1929, and
died in San Francisco on the 26th day of
April, 1887. He was educated at one of
the leading colleges in the city of Vienna,
the Capital of Austria. In 1855, at the
age of %, ne left his native home for Cal
ifornia. His intention before leaving was
to come TO California, not merely to join
the tide of immigration from his native
country to the United States. He brought
with him his sister, Mrs. William Green
hood. He arrived in Californsa October
4, 1870, and from the day of his arrival to
the day of his death, a period of
nearly thirty-two years, he remained
patriotic citizen of this State. Sacra-
mento became his first home in this State,
and from 1885 to 1862 he was in business
in this city. In the latter year Z. d.
Judah, the first Chief Engineer of the
Central Pacific Railroad Company, the
pioneer in whose mind was conceived the
plan Of spanning the continent with bands
OF iron, chose Adolph Steiner as the chief
draughtsman of his department., the posi-
lion in which he was found when the final
summons came. His distinguished abili-
ties in his particular line and his faithful
ness 70 every duty were such that the sug-
gestion Of superseding him or placing any
one else over him was never once thought
of by his superiors in Office. Days length
ening into months and months slowly
rounding into years found Adolph Steiner
at his post, always quick to comprehend
and skillful to execute. For a full quarter
of century he occupied an honorable
place in the great industrial army to which
he belonged, always accepting cheerfully
the post assigned him and always equal to
the duties his position imposed lie was
never married. In social life he possessed
many qualifications which conferred upon
his society a peculiar charm He was
cultivated musician, especially fond of the
lutte, upon which instrument he executed
with great skill He was linguist of
rare attainment, speaking, in addition to
his native tongue, German, French, Ital-
ian and English. He was an educated, re-
fined and cultivated gentleman, devoted
to his profession, kind aad generous to his
friends, loving to those dependent upon
him, courteous towards all with whom he
came in contact, respecting and respected
by those around him. Unobtrusively the
honorable and courageous life of this
soldier Of industry passed. The record he
has left i not brilliant with great achieve
ment, bat, what is far better, it is one of
nnbroken courage, well-sustained fidelity
and unsuilied purity. Those who knew
him bear willing testimony to the value of
his services, the oonstancy of his purpose,
and the exaltation of his devotion to duty.
All who assembled to pay the last sad
tribute of respect sincerely loved him, and
rs sincerely regret his loss and cherish his